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10/02/2005 09:53:07 AM · #1 |
I'm only in California for another 4 weeks before moving to Australia, and the schedule is filling up fast with family/friends get togethers! I was born and raised in SoCal but have never been to Catalina and I'm thinking of trying to plan a weekday trip. Anybody ever been? Have any suggestions for things to see and do and shoot? How long is long enough to stay? Any other info or ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks!!
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10/02/2005 10:00:54 AM · #2 |
We went on a cruise in March that stopped at Catalina Island. We just spent a couple hours there but enjoyed it. I can only reccomend what we did, but we really did enjoy it. They have golf carts that they rent for you to drive around the island and we rented one and took a couple of our kids in it. The views of the ocean from up high on the winding roads are spectacular. I think you might enjoy that :)
As for how long to stay, we just stayed the couple of hours and had time to sightsee and shop some in their little shops. That was enough for us, but I'd say you need less than a day there most likely? Half a day would probably be good for getting in photo time? |
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10/02/2005 10:19:52 AM · #3 |
Cool thanks for that! I may try to at least spend the night so I can catch a sunrise. Sounds like the views would be perfect for it!
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10/02/2005 10:34:46 AM · #4 |
Hate to say it, but I think Santa Catalina is probably one of the least photogenic islands that I've ever seen. To me, it always seemed like a piece of California desert stuck out in the Pacific. :) It certainly isn't what I would call a tropical paradise. San Clemente Island is very similar. We used to fish around both island quite often, and there are a lot of neat rock formations all around the island. Try to take a boat trip around the island if you can.
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10/02/2005 11:29:55 AM · #5 |
For the most part I would have to agree with micknewton. I worked on the island every summer for a number of years. Unless you have some specific activity planned like scuba, sailing, hunting (not sure if that's allowed these days), or are a boy scout there for summer camp, there isn't anything remarkable about the island. It's basically just a pit stop for the yacht crowd to pick up beer.
However, if you do go, you may want to take a drive out to the west end and see if you can photograph some buffalo. That's pretty much the most interesting thing there. |
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10/02/2005 11:31:14 AM · #6 |
Hmmm... doesn't sound like a very promising trip!! Thanks for your input all!
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
However, if you do go, you may want to take a drive out to the west end and see if you can photograph some buffalo. That's pretty much the most interesting thing there. |
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10/02/2005 12:23:05 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by ahaze:
Hmmm... doesn't sound like a very promising trip!! Thanks for your input all! |
Don't get me wrong, Catalina can be lots of fun, and, no doubt, you can get some excellent photos there too. Like I said, we fished all around the island (excellent fishing), and I saw lots of spots that I'd love to photograph. But, if you're expecting beautiful scenes of swaying palm trees and pristine white beaches, then you're at the wrong address. :)
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10/02/2005 01:13:01 PM · #8 |
I spent two days on Catalina in the spring of 04 and was loath to leave. The island is probably one of my favorite places in the entire US and I would recommend a trip there to anyone. I found the island to be quite photogenic, and took many pictures while there. The main town, Avalon, is exactly what a small harbor town should be, in my mind at least, and although I wasn't able to explore the interior of the island, I hope to return to do so within a few years. Before you leave CA, you should definetly go!! It's a fun place, relaxing, and from my experience, easy to fall in love with.
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10/02/2005 01:35:25 PM · #9 |
One more thing, true you are not going to encounter "Tropical Island" surroundings there, but then again it is California, not Jamaica :) So I think if you just like seeing new places, it's worth a visit.
Why don't you go to Yahoo.com and do a search for Catalina Island using the "Images" Tab and check out some photos. There's a pretty good representation of what you will see. Some nice photos where you can see the top of tile covered buildings with the ocean and ships in the distance. It might help you to decide if it's a place you may enjoy. |
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10/02/2005 04:09:26 PM · #10 |
Well, that makes me feel better about the trip. Anybody have any specific things that are shoot-worthy?
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10/02/2005 05:42:35 PM · #11 |
Catalina Island. That takes me back to a few pleasant day spent there a few years ago. I found many places to shoot that were different and interesting in the town of Avalon itself. Including the Casino (not a gambling palace) some other architecture that is quaint and the tiny roads on which golf carts are the major transportation. (It's prohibitively expensive to import a car)
Forget the glass bottom boatin th Avalon harbor. Unless the coral has grown at phenonemal speed, you will see sand and a few fishies.
There was a ruin just outside of town staright back from the harbor, easy to walk to, that had some ceramic inlays in the stones that were worth study.
The tourist bus that takes you around the island is pretty dreadful, but it does stop once in a while, once at a sort of ranch that gives a truly awful tourist show, but still a photographer can capitalize on that, and the remenants of the ranch are quite interesting. There are also ubiquitous ravens to catch if you can.
Finally, the little airport at the top of the island has it's own charm and photographic opportunities.
No, none of this is spectacular, but taken in conjunction with a boat tour around the island, you can find plenty to enjoy and photograph. |
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10/02/2005 06:11:42 PM · #12 |
The Wriggley memorial and the surrounding gardens are well worth visiting. Walk up from Avalon and it only takes half and hour our so to get there. There is a very nice beach club ( nothing fancy, but island style) past the casino where you can barbaque anything you catch or bring in and they have a good salad bar and the like. If you scuba dive, that is worth a day. And if you don't just walking east along the shore is worth a bit of a walk, theses waters are the best spot to see the California state fish the Garibaldi.
This isnt the most exciting sopt in the world, but as a mixture of interesting ecosystem and califonia histoy it is a few days well spent. |
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10/02/2005 06:17:40 PM · #13 |
I'd suggest renting a little 15hp motor boat and taking a tour along the shore. You can rent them on the pier, and they only allow you to go a certain distance, but it's enought, and a great way to see the island.
I've heard that the Airport in the Sky is neat, prolly some good shots there.
Avalon is probably best. When I was there, they had some live music and stuff in the square, and there's always people around. And of course the Casino, it's huge and very photogenic...you can't miss it!
If you can make it up to the other, even smaller town, Two Harbors, I'm sure it has some opportunites as well.
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10/02/2005 06:20:51 PM · #14 |
| I reccomend watching Catalina Caper before going, though preferably the version featuring the clever quips by the guys at Mystery Science Theater 3000. |
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10/02/2005 07:34:58 PM · #15 |
Thank you all! Very helpful!
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